Скачать или смотреть Major Cultural Practices of the Xhosa People

The Xhosa nation comprises people of various tribes who reside in South Africa and some other countries. Some of these tribes are the amaRharhabe, imiDange, amaGcaleka, imiDushane, and amaNdlambe who all speak the isiXhosa language and practice the Xhosa culture. The people derived their name, “Xhosa,”  from a king and legendary leader, uXhosa. The Xhosa People popularly refer to themselves as “amaXhosa”. There are over eight million Xhosa people distributed across South Africa. Little wonder the isiXhosa language is the second most-spoken home language after Zulu. There are also some Xhosa people who reside in Cape Town, East London, Zimbabwe, Port Elizabeth, among other parts of the world. The Xhosa People mainly practice traditional African religions and Christianity. They have upheld their traditional beliefs for centuries, despite colonial interference. Their traditional teachings are never written, instead, they are transmitted from generations to generations through oral tradition. Each clan would have its elders teach them these customs which they hold in high esteem. They believe that everyone should know their clan and be attached to it. The Xhosa people call their clan, isiduko, and uburhanuka, which is an unknown identity is a terrible thing and usually forbidden. Right from birth, a Xhosa person undergoes a ritual in each developmental stage. This is to help them familiarize with their counterparts and ancestors.